Top Dem Calls For New Probe Into Pruitt Using Twitter For Propaganda

"Those policies were followed to the best of my knowledge". "No, I don't recall". Marked "For Official Use Only", the internal summary was then improperly made public, Elkins said.

Pruitt's statement was undercut when Udall held up a February 2017 email from the administrator's former head of security, Pasquale "Nino" Perrotta. Udall on whether or not the administrator explicitly requested the use of lights and sirens on agency vehicles while travelling.

The senators asked Pruitt whether he had personally requested the detail on his first day in office.

Pruitt then told Udall that Hupp wasn't paid for this work.

"Additional financial assurance requirements are unnecessary and would impose an undue burden on this important sector of the American economy and rural America, where most of these mining jobs are based", Pruitt said in December when he announced his decision. "And I look forward to working more with you further as we're enjoying this leadership". "That's in violation of federal law".

And the subcommittee's top Democrat, New Mexico's Tom Udall, is accusing Pruitt of failing to inform lawmakers about a $43,000 soundproof booth for making private phone calls from his office.

In contrast, Chairwoman Lisa Murkowski of Alaska gave the Democrats freedom to press Pruitt and ask prosecutor-style follow-up questions when Pruitt, a lawyer who previously served as Oklahoma's state attorney general, sought to deflect or give nonspecific answers.

"I'm being asked, really constantly asked, to comment on housing, security and travel".

"I was unaware of the tweet and that shouldn't have occurred", Mr. Pruitt said.

In his opening remarks, Pruitt said there were some decisions during his tenure he would not have made again with the benefit of hindsight, but he also denied some of the allegations against him and said some were exaggeration.

Udall is citing an email written by EPA's security chief saying Pruitt "encourages the use" of emergency lights.

The senator said Wednesday he has requested the Government Accountability Office launch a probe into the EPA's social media usage.

Perrotta, who wrote the email about the use of lights and sirens, also drafted a memo a year ago saying Pruitt needed to fly in premium class seats because of security threats. Asked about the issue by Democratic Sen.

"It's my understanding that all activity there was on personal time, and the individual that you are referring to is a longtime friend of my wife, and myself", Pruitt said.

While "lean" is an apt description of the current state of the EPA, which has cut half a billion dollars from its budget over the past two years and brought staff numbers down to Reagan-era levels, it's the opposite of Pruitt's own spending habits.

EPA administrator Scott Pruitt faced multiple questions and criticisms during a Senate hearing about the scandals surrounding his time at the environmental agency.

As Pruitt left the hearing room, protesters trailed him through the halls of the Senate office building shouting "Mr. Pruitt, you should be fired!" and "You should be ashamed, Mr. Pruitt".